Belgium sees the biggest PPA-driven solar installation commissioned since 2013
With a capacity of 2,2 MW, the rooftop array is at the industrial plant of Belgian company Ontex, which will buy almost all the electricity generated from project developer Menapy under a 15-year power supply deal.
New Finnish government pledges carbon neutrality by 2035
Climate change and environmental protection were a top priority for the elections held in April. With solid green backing from the electorate and an ambitious domestic agenda, Finland is due to assume the EU presidency from Romania. Across the EU green parties are gaining ground but the bloc has yet to draft a comprehensive climate protection bill. Finland’s ambition could change that.
European Solar Manufacturing Council chooses Eicke Weber as chairman
The former director of Fraunhofer ISE will be officially elected at a general assembly planned for September. The ESCM wants a strong Europe to be part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and also pay attention to sustainability.
Large scale PV moribund in UK but unsubsidized projects offer hope
The latest government figures show utility scale solar had near-zero growth in 12 months. Although excluded from the Contracts for Difference procurement regime, large scale projects may experience a resurgence thanks to unsubsidized schemes linked to bilateral power supply deals, with the Solar Trade Association predicting 400 MW of such projects may be finalized this year.
Biden promises 100% clean energy in US by 2050
U.S. Presidential candidate Joe Biden has released his climate plan, which focuses on tax cut reversals and executive action to kickstart 100% clean energy and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Growth slows in India as developers add 1.7 GW of solar in Q1
The country’s solar installations fell 49% year-on-year in the first three months of 2019, with rooftop PV additions plunging as installers struggled to secure approval for projects immediately before the Indian general election, according to new statistics from Mercom India Research.
Scatec Solar and Acciona move forward with separate projects in Ukraine
The Ukrainian market has emerged as rather fertile ground for project developers over the last two years, as a newly enacted law has eased uncertainty over the market’s future, with a quota-based auction system set to replace the country’s generous feed-in tariff scheme in 2020.
Tongwei announces output tie-up with Longi
The two Chinese companies will acquire 30% shares in each other’s respective wafer and silicon businesses and plan to purchase at least 75% of each other’s future output, as part of a complex mutual investment arrangement announced ahead of the SNEC PV Power Expo 2019.
Shanghai Electric to build 280 MW in Australia
The Chinese electrical equipment giant will build the first project of Simec Energy Australia’s landmark $1 billion, 1 GW dispatchable renewable energy program in the state of South Australia.
Canada launches $110.9m fund to support C&I clean tech
Companies can apply to have the fund cover up to 25% of the cost of renewable energy projects, as well as energy-efficiency and e-mobility initiatives.
